James Bulger was snatched by then-10-year-olds Jon Venables and Robert Thompson in 1993.

These two could have been intending to do something terrible to the child they tried to lure away. The thought of it made my blood run cold.

James Bulger’s mum Denise Fergus

The girl, aged about four, was with her mother in a 24-hour Asda when the pair aged 11 and 12 reportedly tried to coax her away in broad daylight.

But the mum managed to retrieve her daughter. It happened just six miles from the shopping centre in Bootle, Merseyside, where two-year-old James was snatched by then-10-year-olds Jon Venables and Robert Thompson in 1993.

They took him on a four-mile walk across Liverpool before torturing him to death. Like James’s abduction, the little girl’s ordeal was captured on CCTV.

Police are trying to trace her and her mum, who immediately reported it to an in-store security guard.

But he failed to pass it on to his bosses until the next day and did not take contact details.

Detectives last night issued CCTV pictures of the mum in the hope someone would recognise her.

The photos show a dark-haired woman carrying a youngster on her hip while guiding a trolley round the store in Smithdown Road, Liverpool.

James’s mum Denise Fergus said news of the incident, which was broken to her by police, made her “blood run cold”.

“It sent a chill down my spine,’’ she said

“It’s so similar to what happened to my James. It’s so important that this mother comes forward to tell the full story of what happened.

“The police must have some real concern about what is shown on the CCTV. It’s right they should treat this seriously.

“They need to get to the bottom of this and she is a vital witness.

“The two who abducted and murdered my son were 10 but they did the worst things imaginable.

“I’ve been told that the pair arrested for this are 11 and 12 but age should never be an excuse. I’ve seen some very calculating children.

“These days some kids are so hard and knowing about the world. They act like little adults.

“These two could have been intending to do something terrible to the child they tried to lure away.

“The thought of it made my blood run cold.

“In this case, thank God, nothing bad happened, but it could very easily have been a different story.”

Mrs Fergus warned mums out doing their Christmas shopping to be vigilant.

The two young suspects were arrested five days later and have been released on police bail pending further inquiries.